Nirvana, Replacements Among 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

Nirvana and the Replacements have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joining them on the abnormally hip and eclectic list of 2014 hopefuls are NWA, LL Cool J and Chic, whose guitarist Nile Rodgers has won a new generation of fans by lending his signature disco strumming to three songs on Daft Punk's much-loved 'Random Access Memories.'

While several of the performers -- the 'Mats, Zombies and Link Wray among them -- are first-time nominees, Nirvana is the only act to have been tapped for the honor in their first year of eligibility. To have been considered, artists needed to have released their first single or album in 1988 or earlier, and since Kurt Cobain's seminal Seattle outfit dropped their debut single, 'Love Buzz,' in late '88, they were fair game.

As much as fans love to complain about the Rock Hall and its notoriously out-of-touch voters, the Cleveland institution is taking steps to incorporate public opinion. Between now and Dec. 10, fans can vote on the Rolling Stone website for the nominees they'd like to see inducted, and the top five vote-getters will land on a "fan ballot." Granted, said ballot is one of 600 that determine who gets in, but still, it's progress.

As Rolling Stone reports, Yes' induction might lead to their first performance with lead singer Jon Anderson in a decade, and it's at least possible the Replacements, who recently reunited for three Riot Fest gigs, will also take the stage. A Nirvana reunion obviously isn't in the cards, but given that Paul McCartney is prone to showing up at such events, there's a shot he'll reprise his role as Cobain's stand-in, bust out that weird square-shaped guitar and rock with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.